St John Payne Catholic School, Chelmsford, Chelmsford

From the headteacher's welcome: "I am blessed and honoured to serve and lead as Headteacher of St John Payne Catholic School. We have long enjoyed a glowing reputation as a community of learning and faith, both in the local community and beyond."

In 2026, pupils at St John Payne Catholic School, Chelmsford averaged an Attainment 8 score of 48.7, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 46.5 in Essex and 47 across England.

46% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 45% in Essex and 47% in England.

That is down from 49.9 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.1: pupils made about average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 37.7, against 52 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 14.3 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 24 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Religious Studies, Combined Science and History.

For September 2026 entry, 187 families put St John Payne Catholic School, Chelmsford as their first choice and 645 named it as one of their preferences, for 182 places offered. That is slightly more first choices than places. 54 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to St John Payne Catholic School, Chelmsford are Chelmsford County High School for Girls (0.6 miles, Outstanding, selective, Attainment 8 81.4); King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford (0.8 miles, Outstanding, selective, Attainment 8 83); The Boswells School (1.2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 49.1); and Chelmer Valley High School (1.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 48).

St John Payne Catholic School, Chelmsford's 2026 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.

Of the 192 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 93% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 23% to a further education college, 1% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

Of the 115 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 69% went on to university or other higher education, 4% to apprenticeships and 17% into work. 26% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

14.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 10.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (43%), Black (13%) and Asian (11%).

In 2026, 84 pupils (6.8%) received SEN support and 34 (2.7%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is autism.

The nearest railway station is Chelmsford Rail Station, about 1.1 miles away in a straight line.

7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is St John Payne School (outside), 80 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 193 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Essex (97), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, St John Payne Catholic School, Chelmsford issued 130 suspensions, 10.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to St John Payne Catholic School, Chelmsford are St Pius X Catholic Primary School (0.2 miles), Parkwood Academy (0.4 miles), Kings Road Primary School (0.5 miles) and Maltese Road Primary School (0.7 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.